How many superheroes are defined by their disabilities? You don’t remember Superman because he can be weakened by kryptonite. You remember him because he’s as close to invincible as it gets. Daredevil, however, is defined by his being blind. It makes him unique and different from other superheroes.

Daredevil can’t fly or shoot lasers out of his eyes, but he still fights crime just like Superman. That’s what makes him so appealing. He is a bit more realistic and grounded. He’s not rich, he doesn’t have superpowers. He’s just a blind man that worked his body to the max. He’s something that people can reach and can become (minus the enhanced senses). That’s what makes him a great character.

Part of what makes Daredevil’s story so compelling is the strong supporting cast. Daredevil’s friends give his character so much more depth. Without them, he’s a blind man in a devil costume who beats up criminals. With them, there’s Matthew Murdock and Daredevil. Matthew Murdock is a criminal defense lawyer who fights crime in the courtroom with his best friend and ex-girlfriend. Daredevil is a man who fights crime outside the courtroom with his fists. When the law fails, when Matthew Murdock fails, there is Daredevil.

With Daredevil, however, comes those who don’t appreciate his vigilantism. There is Kingpin, a crime boss with all the money he wants at his disposal. He has everything, while Matthew Murdock has nothing. How does he overcome a man with every resource he doesn’t have? Another great villain that Daredevil encounters is Bullseye—the man who never misses. What makes Bullseye such an excellent character foil is their most obvious contrast. The man with the best eyes in the world versus the man who can’t see. Not only that, but their contrasting fighting styles, too. Bullseye, who prefers to kill from afar, and Daredevil, who doesn’t kill and likes to get close to use his boxing skills. What makes them different is what makes them awesome. Would it be interesting to see two indestructible beings punching each other with no damage dealt? No, it wouldn’t.

This is what makes Daredevil work, his humanity. He’s not indestructible. He can get hurt, he can lose, and that’s what makes his story all the more compelling.